{"id":118604,"date":"2024-10-17T10:15:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T08:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cavalor.com\/articles\/your-horse-s-tendons\/"},"modified":"2024-10-17T10:32:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T08:32:47","slug":"your-horse-s-tendons","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/cavalor.com\/en-us\/articles\/your-horse-s-tendons\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Horse\u2019s Tendons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
We want the best for our horses. Every day, we work to give them the best care, the best training with lots of time for recovery and regeneration, and a balanced diet so that they can be \u201chappy athletes\u201d. Injuries? We do our best to prevent them. But, like any athletes, horses can get injured. In this blog article, we\u2019ll discuss equine tendons and tendon injuries. You\u2019ll learn about what tendon injuries are, how they occur, how to avoid them and how feed can help with recovery.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What are tendon injuries?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Joints are important for movement. They play an important role in a horse\u2019s mobility, transferring energy from muscle to the bones. That is how bodies move. Tendons are strong, fibrous structures that connect muscle to bone. Although tendons are strong, they don\u2019t get as much blood as, say, muscles, so nutrients and waste products are not as easily transported to and from the tendons. That\u2019s also the reason why injured tendons need time to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tendon injury can vary in severity, ranging from mild irritation or inflammation to serious tearing of the tendon fibres. Such injuries can have different causes, such as excessive overload, incorrect training, abrupt movements or training on unsuitable surfaces. However, abnormal conformation and abnormal positioning of the feet and legs can also cause tendon injuries. When a tendon injury occurs, the horse may show signs like swelling, lameness or sensitivity in the affected area and mobility will be limited accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every tendon in the body can be subject to injury, but the most common injuries occur to the tendons found on the back of the cannon bone, specifically the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the accessory ligament, or the suspensory ligament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tendons and ligaments are not the same! <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t confuse tendons with ligaments. Tendons connect muscles to bones, while ligaments connect bones to other bones at joints, and also connect bones to other bones at various places in the body. Ligaments are, on the whole, less elastic than muscles and can be injured if the joint is overstretched. The purpose of ligaments is to stabilise the joints and prevent their dislocation.  Each of these structures plays an important part in maintaining stability and movement in the body. Although tendons and ligaments differ slightly, they need the same nutrients for optimal use and regeneration. Type I collagen is an essential building block for the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do horses get tendon injuries? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Injuries happen when they\u2019re least expected. When tendons are overstretched, they can tear. If the tears are slight and have enough time to heal, you may not even notice them. Types of tendon injuries range from minor fibre damage to a complete rupture of the tendon. The causes for tendon injuries are manifold and can be from training or external trauma. A frequent cause in horses is overuse, but overheating, age and conformation can also have impacts on their occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that your horse\u2019s conformation can tell you much about how well it can withstand loads? Improper positioning of the leg or hoof can cause overload to the tendon. Although correcting crooked legs is only recommended for young horses, the farrier can naturally make sure that the hoof position is as balanced as possible. Proper care and preventive measures can minimise equine tendon injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the tendon is damaged, inflammation, heat development and swelling occur. In many cases the horse goes lame, but in others, recovery is quick. However, that\u2019s doesn\u2019t automatically mean that the tendon injury is fully healed. An ultrasound exam will show the severity of the tendon injury and provide guidance for a treatment plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention is key <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

How can tendon injuries by prevented? Early detection is important \u2013 small abnormalities often lead to larger problems later on. Examine your horse\u2019s legs every day by feeling them with your hands. Know your horse. Note any changes. Has a leg become warmer or thicker? Does the horse react when you touch this leg? To prevent injuries, it\u2019s important that you know your horse and can recognise anomalies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other preventive measures: <\/p>\n\n\n\n